Gfar-shift mechanism



R. B. LEWIS Feb. 24, 1931.

GEAR SHIFT MEGHANI SM Filed Feb. 5, 1930 Z5 Sheets-Sheet l wNN wmv

Feb. 24, 1931. l R B. Ew|s 1,794,187

GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM I Filed Feb. 5, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y Feb. 24, 1931. R B, LEMS 1,794,187

GEAR SHIFT MECHANI s'M Filed Feb. 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 6?/ l ,59 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED siuxrfr-:s

Parrasr oFFICiE.

ROBERT B. LETIS7 OF PHILADELPH, )flfhllilSYLVZANIA, ASSIGNOBVTO TENIUS kOLSEN' TESTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF'IEHELELDELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA; ACORPORATION 'OF PENNSYLVANIA GEAR-SHIFT MECHANISM vApplication filed February .5, 1920;

'The yp-resentinvention relates to variable speed mechanism and more particularly to :an improved selector shifting unit for .controlling a multiple speed system.

Some of the objects of the present inventionA are to prov-.idea simple and efficient speed selecting device for a multiple speed .power transmission; to provide a speed selecting device operated .by a single shift lever wherein any one of Va 'plurality of power transmitting speedslcan be selected at will; to provide a control fora :transmission mechanism wherein eight different'speedsare possible so that any one of: said speeds can be Vquickly vand easily selected at will; to provide a speed selector :mechanism wherein asingle control lever coacts with a .movable-selector unit for causing any one of a plurality :of variable speed mechanisms-to be set in accordance with the selected position of said =unit as determined -by the operation of said shifting lever; to provvide a 'selecting mechanism for a multiple speed transmission Vwherein the selected driven speed gears are automatically thrown .into .mesh with the driving gears when :the said-gears are lout of Yregistering position at the time thev selecting .mechanism .is operated; to 'provide 4means 'for imparting to a 'lever operated fclntch combination vangular `movements which willcause either negative or positive rotation of such levers as are selected for the accomplishment of a predetermined combination of all the levers under clutch shiftingmeans; Fig. l representsan .enlarged detail in end elevation of the selecltor unit; fFzig. 5 represents a-section online 5*-.5 of fFig. 2 .Fig-6 represents a plan ofthe toplmemberof the selector unit; Fig 7 represents abottom plan'ofthebottom member Serial No.' 426,023.

of theselector unit and Fig. 8 represents a detail in plan of the speed selecting plate.

Referring to the drawings and initiallyito Fig. 1 a multiple speed `gear box 10 isshown as an example of a transmission to 'which-the selector mechanism of the present invention can be applied for control purposes.v In the present instance this transmission 1'0 ziswarranged to :transmit eight different speeds from the driving shaft llto the vdriven shaft 12, the selection of the desiredv speed being made as will presently be explained. `'gllhe driving shaft l1 carries a high speed gear 13 d a lowspeed gear-14, both fixed yto :ro tat with the shaft '11, .and respectively in mesh with gears 15 and lwhich are supported by a counter-shaft?? fbut are-.rotatable relativeto such shaft 1.7. The opposed faces of these gears 1.5 `and `1G are provided respectively vwith clutch Yparts 18 and 20, andthe counter-shaft but unormally 'mesh with g'ears 26 and 28 upon the drivenJ shaft 12.' "The clutch construction :is similarto that hereto- --fore described comprising 4clutch Vparts 30 and-81 uponthe gears 24 and=25.-an,d-aslidable clutch lmember C32 having-clutch faces 33 and 34 for respectively-engaging'the-gear clutch parts 30 and31. The two -gea-rs126-and 28 are mountednpon a-,sleeve "35 l.which 'is freely `rotatable 'relative f to the :shaft 12 and termi- Vnates at one end ina clutch face 86 juxtaposed with respect to almova'ble .clutch memberST Ekeyed for fslidi-ngl :movement upon the' shaft 12 and havinga clutch face 38 forengaging -itherface '36. l Another clutch faced() is :pro-

vided upon the i other vside of ithe member' 37' :forengagementwith-a clutchlface 41 upon a gear 42 which-lis' freely rotatable upon: the o shaft 12 and in mesh with a gear 43 fast to the sleeve all which carries the gear 25.

F or the purpose of shifting the respective clutch members 2l, 32, and 37 axially to engage the respective selected clutch faces, rocker forks 45, i6 and Ll'." are attached to the respective members 21, 32 and 37, the fork l5 being keyed to rocking-shaft 48, the fork i6 being keyed to a rock-shaft 50, and the fork e7 being keyed to a rock-shaft 51. The three rock-shafts are journalled in the gear bex 10 in parallel relation and all projectk at one side thereof for attachment lecting mechanism.

For selectively controlling the operation of the rock-shafts 48, and 51, the projecting end of l"ach carries a. hub 52 freely rotatable thereon and forn'iing an integral part of a yoke. Thus there are two end yokes 53 and and an intermediate yoke 55, which are mounted to normali,Y maintain a vertical position between the top and bottom plates 56 and 57 of `a selector unit. The yoke is providedv with two oppositely located and outwardly disposed radial pins and 59, which are respectively fired to the enc s ofthe yoke, the pin 58 riding in a cam hole 61 of the plate 56 and the pin 59 riding in a cam hole 62 of plate 57. Likewise the yoke 5e has similarly mounted pins 63 and 64 riding respectively in cam holes 65 and 66 of the respective plates 56 and 57. The arms of the yoke 53 are interconnected by a rod 67 of spring material which passes through the end of the rock-shaft 48 with a snug fit. The arms of the yoke 54 are also interconnected by rod 68 of spring material which passes through the end of the rock-shaft 51 with a snug lit. The intermediate yoke has its arms connected by a rod 7 0 of spring material which passes through the end of the rockshaft 50 with a snug lit, While its lower arm terminates in a pair of aperaured ears 71 receiving bet-ween them an apertured head 72 arranged for pivotal movement upon a pivot pin 73.

For supporting the selector unit, the plates 56 and 57, which are segment shaped, are interconnected by transverse webs 74C which extend radially respectively from hubs 75 pivotally mounted upon pins 76. Each pin 76 is fixedly held by a pair of ears 77 forming a part of a bracket 78 fastened to the main frame or boX 10 in any suitable manner. In each case the space between one pair of ears is greater than the length of the hub 75 mounted therebetween, and the clearance at both sides of the hub, when the latter is in its middle position, is such as to allow the unit to move in both directions far enough to give the yokes suiiicient rocking motion to turn the rock-shafts angularly far enough to clutch or declutch the respective clutches.

For swinging the selector unit about its to Vthe seaxis (namely the pins 76) and also for shifting it axially along the pins 7 6 to bring it to any selected position, a shift lever 80 is provided which is integral with the head 72 and has a hub 81 provided with an elongated slot 82 for the reception of the shaft 50. This lever 8O passes through a centrally disposed opening 83 in the upper plate 56 and contacts therewith at its opposite sides respecf tively so that any movement of the lever 80 about the shaft 50 as an axis will result in like movement of the selector unit. Adjustable pins 84; enter the plate 56 from oppositesides and are set against the lever 8O to transmit movement thereof to the unit when the lever 80 is swuno' about the pin 73 as a pivot. This shifting of the pivot from the shaft 50Y t0 the pin 73 allows a relatively small-arc of travel of the lever 8O while giving a relatively large are of travel to the selector unitabout the pins 76 as an axis. 1 v Y The upper end ofthe lever 8O terminates in a handle operating in a. selector plate 85 fixed to the gear box 10 or other part. This p ate 85 is provided with a central transverse slot 86 to allow unrestricted swing of the lever 80 about the pivot 73 and communicates at beth sides with a plurality of pockets arranged in pairs in opposed relation. These pockets for convenience are f designated in terms of speed ratios 1 and A, 2 and .2, .1 and ll, .O5 and 8, and the arrangement is such that thespeed determined by the lever 8O whenin a pocket at one side bears a definite relation to the speed determined by the lever 8O when in the pocket directly opposite.

Tn connection with the camslots of the selector unit it should be noted that the slot 61 in the top plate 56 has ay shape complementa-l to the shape of the slot 62 and similarythe cam slot is complemental to the cam slot 66. That is to say, in the present arrangement one end-of the cam slot 62 is elongated as shown at 87 to have a width to receive the pin 58 and a length to allow that pin to follow a complete stroke of the lever 8O in both directions when shifted into the pockets .05 or 8. Similarly the opposite side of the cam slot 61 is provided with a like slot 88 of the same width and length so as to correspond to the movement of the pin 58 when the lever 8O enters the pockets 1 and .4. Thus the slots 87 and 88 correspond respectively to two positions of the lever 80, which are taken by swinging the lever 8O about the pivot 73 to bring the arm opposite to one or the other of the first and fourth p0- ition pockets. Then the lever 80 is in either of these two positions it can be moved clockwise or anti-clockwise by swinging it about the pivot 55 and consequently four speeds are at the command of the operator.

The two slots 87 and 88 are interconnected by a centrally disposed slot 89, the length of which is substantially twice the diameter of the pin 58, while its'width is such'as to abut both sides of the pin 58. Thus when the lever 8O is opposite either of the two intermediate pockets 1.-4 or 2-.2, the pin 58 will be in the slot 89 so that movement of the plate 56 will be transmitted direct-ly to Vthat pin 58. The cam slot 62 in the plate 57 is so shaped that its pin 59 is moved by the plate 57, only when the pin 58 is ineither of the slots 87 or 88 and therefore in position 1 of the lever 80, the pin 59 is seated in a slot 90 corresponding substantially in shape and size to the shape and size of the pin 59, and when in position 4 of the lever 80, the pin 59 seats in a slot 91 also of substantially the same shape and size as the pin 59,'and as a result any rocking movement of the lever 8O about the pivot 55, when the pin 59 is in either slot 90 or slot 91 will result in transferring the movement of the selector unit, through plate 57 to the pin 59. During such movement the pin 58 rides freely in either the slot 87 or slot 88 of the cam slot 61 of plate 56 depending upon whether the lever 8O is in position 1 or position 4.

For controlling the movement of the selector unit by the pins 63 and 64, the top plate 56 has its cam slot 65 substantially T-shaped, the head slot 92 of the l having a width corresponding to twice the diameter of the pin 63 (in order to take care of two positions of the lever 80) and a length equal to the full throw of the plate 56 under the action of the lever 8O when swung about the pivot 55. The shank ol the T is a slot 93 having a length equal to twice the diameter of the pin 63 and a. width substantially that of the pin 63 so that the latter is maintained in abutting relation with the plate 56 to receive motion therefrom withoJ-.t lost motion.

The cam slot 66 of the plate 57 is of the same shape and dimensions as the slot but is inverted with respect thereto, so that the T-shank slot 94 is vertically beneath the slot 92, while the T-head slot 95 is opposite to and below the slot 93. The :tour possible positions of the pins 58, 59, 63 and 64, transversel the edge of the lever 80 is in contact with.

ly considered, are indicated by dotted lines opposite the respective slots. In Fig. 1 of the drawings the lever 8O 1s shown 1n neutral position opposite position 2 corresponding to registering` position with pockets .1 and 4 of the indicator plate 85, and therefore the pin 58 is in position so that horizontal movement of the selector plate 56 will transmit angular movement of the lever 53 in the same direction; the pin 59 is in such a position in the slot 62 that movement of the selector plate 57 in either direction will not engage this pin 59; the pin 63 is in such a position in the slot 92 that the selector plate 56 is free to move in either direction without engaging this pin 63; and the pin 64 is in position so that horizontal movement of the selector plate 57 will transmit angular movement through this pin to the lever 54 and in the same direction. Now if the lever 80 is turned clockwise to enter the pocket 4, the plate 56 will move to the right and carry the pin 59 with it, while the pin 63 receives no motion because the slot 92 allows the plate 56 to move relative to this pin 63. rlhe bottom plate 57 follows the movement of the plate 56 and transmits its motion to the pin 64 inY slot 94 while the pin 59 is unaffected because it is in the widest part of the slot 62. Likewise throwing the lever 8O counterfclockwise 'to enter the pocket .1 will bring about a dilerent selectionv of the control pins and cause different rocking of the clutch shafts so that another speed can be selected. Thus the lever 80 can be rocked about its pivot 73 to 180 select any one of tour positions and in each of which it is capable of being rocked on kits pivot 50, clockwise and antirlockwise, to give a choice of two speeds. In the form of the invention here illustrated a multiple speed transmission is shown having eight" dierent speeds which can be selectively controlled by a single lever selector unit.

The operation of the selecting mechanism is as follows:

Assuming the control lever 80 to be in a neutral position and it is desired to select a certain speed ratio, the lever 8O is moved lengthwise in the slot 86 until it is in register with the slet in the plate 85 which corresponds to the selected speed ratio. This movement of the lever 8O lengthwise of the slot 86 takes place by swinging it about lthe pivot pin 7 3 and since the selector unit is pivoted upon the pins 76 it will have a relatively long arc of travel while the arc of travel of the lever 80 is relatively short. This is advantageous in that the Operator does not khave to Amove the lever 80 through a long arc Vof travel'to reach the selected position. Assuming the selected speed to be one of those determined by the pocket .1-4 the lever 8O will be swung to the position shown in Fig. 1 where it is in register with these pockets and it can then be moved, forV example, clockwise to enter the Docket 4 to select one of the speeds. Since the plate 56 the latter, together with the plate 57, will be shifted to the right as seen in Fig. 2 and the yoke pins which are then f in a position to be pushed by these plates will follow the movement of the selector unit. ln this instance the pins so picked up by the selector unit are pins 58 and 64 and no pressure is placed upon the pins 59 and 63 because these latter are respectively located in the rlong slots of the cams 62 and 65 so that the plates 56 and 57 can move relative to these last mentioned pins. The result of this movementV to the right of the selector unit causes the yoke 53 to swing the upper half of the rod 67 in a clockwise direction while the yoke 54 Vswings the lower half of the rod 65 in a'counter clockwise direction and the result is the shaft 48 is rock-ed clockwise while the shaft 5l is rocked counter clockwise provided the clutch members are in register with the gear clutch faces to permit the required rocking action. rEhe clockwise movement of the shaft 48 rocks the movable clutch member 23 into clutching relation with the clutch face 20 upon the gear i6, and the counter clockwise movement of the shaft 5l rocks the movable clutch member` 3? into clutching re-n lation with the clutch ln case the respective clutch faces of the clutch members 23 and 87 are not in register with the clutch faces of the clutch part to be driven they will contact with such clutch faces, though this will not interfere with the continued movement of the selector unit to its full stroke position because the ro ls 5T and 68, being of spring' or elastic material, will now be in position 'to maintain the proper tional shifting pressure of the rock Therefore as soon as the out of register gear clutch faces turn into register t1 esc spring,l rods 67 and 68 will snap the rcs 'ive shafts in the proper direction to b desired clutching action cf the middle yoke 55 being attached through the pivotal connecti n 73 follows the movement of the lower end of the lever 8() and hence in the foregoing illustration thc shifting` ofthe selecting unit to the right will result in a clockwise movement of the shaft 50 to throw the movable clutch member into clutching relation with the clutch face 3l of the ,gear Thus by the relatively short swing of the lever 8O in one direction followed by a swinging` movement about the pivo-t 50 any one of the eight speeds can be quickly and easily selected at will, while by reason of the spring' effect of the positioning rods, clashingy of the clutch parts is eliminated and change from one speed to another made relatively noiselessly.

lt will now be apparent that a complete unitary selector mechanism for multiple speed transmissions has been devised Wherein the shaft of each clutch member f the transmission is controlled by means acting upon it from opposite sides, While each means is capable of controlling more than one direction of movement of the shaft. Furthermore the selecting` device is so arranged and constructed as to permit selection of a certain speed ratio of the transmission and it can set that selected speed ratio regardless of the position of the clutching` elements at the time the selection is made. ln other words, the selection of a speed rat-io is made and set whether the clutch parts are in register or not but if the parts are not in register the set position can still be made followed by, an automatic clutching action, which takes place when the clutching devices have moved to registering position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

` ranged l. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a plurality of roel: shafts respectively arranged to shift the movable elements of a plurality7 of clutches, separate means at opposite sides of each shaft for rockingl each shaft clockwise and anti-clockwise, lever controlled means for selecting one orthe other of each set of said rocking means, and means for selecting the direction of operationof the selected means. y

2. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a plurality f roclz shafts respectively arranged to shift the movable elements of a plurality of clutches, separate means at opposite sides of each shaft for rocking each shaft clockwise and antieclocliwisc, a selecting device arto select one or the other of each set of. sai vd rocking' means, and a lover movable to anyone of a plurality of positions for setting said selecting,` device in a predetermined position.

A selecting` mechanism for multiple speed vtransmissions comprising a plurality of roel; shafts respectively arranged to shift the movable elements of a plurality of clutches, separate means at opposite sides of cach shaft for rocking` each shaft, means incudinej cam elements for selectively operatg said rocking' means, and means for setting said selecting means for a predetermined rocking` of said shafts.

4. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a plurality of rocl: shafts respectively arranged to shift the movable elements of a plurality of clutches, separate means at opposite sides of each shaft for rocking,` each shaft, a plate having means for selectively operating the means at one side of each shaft, a plate having means for selectively operating the means at the other side of each shaft, and means for setting each plate in a predetermined position to cause a certain directional rocking of each shaft.

5. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a plurality of rock shafts respectively a 1ranged to shift the movable elements of a plurality of clutches, separate means including yieldable spring,` members at opposite sides of each shaft for rocking each shaft, a plate havingl means for selectively operating` the means at one side of each shaft, a plate havingmeans for selectively operating,l the means at the other side of each shaft, and manually operable means for setting each plate in a predetermined position to cause a certain directional rocking of each shaft.

6. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a plurality of rock shafts-respectively arranged to shift the movable elements of aA plurality of clutches, separate means at opposite sides of each shaft for rocking each shaft, a pivoted unit mounted for sliding movement on its pivot and including means selectively operating said rocking means, and a lever for swinging said unit to a selecting position and for moving said unit to carry out the set selecting operation.

7. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a plurality of rock shafts respectively arranged to shift the movable elements of a plurality of clutches, separate means at opposite sides of each shaft for rocking each shaft, a pivoted unit mounted for sliding movement on its pivot, two cam elements on said unit for selecting the rocking means of each shaft, each cam element having two controls for rendering said rocking means effective and two controls for rendering said rocking means ineffective, and a lever for swinging said unit to a selecting position and for moving said unit to carry out the set selecting operation.

8. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a plurality of rock shafts respectively arranged to shift the movable elements of a plurality of clutches, separate means at opposite sides of each shaft for rocking each shaft, a pivoted unit mounted for sliding movement on its pivot and including means for selectively operating said rocking means, and a lever pivoted eccentric with respect to the pivot of said unit for swinging said unit to a selecting position, and pivoted to also swing in a different plane for moving said unit to selected position.

9. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a plurality of rock shafts arranged respectively to shift the movable elements of a plurality of clutches, rotatably mounted yokes respectively adjacent said shafts, a spring member projecting from opposite sides of each shaft and connected at its ends to the adjacent yoke, a selector unit having cam parts, means on each yoke to be respectively operated by said cam parts, and means to shift the position of said selector unit to bring one or more of said cam parts into operative position to shift one or more of said yokes to cause said shafts to rock in a predetermined direction.

10. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a plurality of rock shafts arranged respectively to shift the movable elements of a plurality of clutches, rotatably mounted yokes respectively adjacent said shafts, a spring member projecting from opposite sides of each shaft and connected at its ends to the adjacent yoke, pins projecting from both ends of each yoke, a selector unit having spectively coacting with the pins at one end of said yokes and having two cam slots for two cam slots for rerespectively coacting with the pins vat the other end of said yokes, and means for setting said unit in any one of a plurality of positions to give a predetermined rocking movement to said shafts.

11. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a plurality of rock shafts arranged respectively to shiftV the movable elements of a plurality of clutches, rotatably mounted yokes respectively adjacent said shafts, a spring member projecting fro-m opposite sides of each shaft and connected at its ends to the adjacent yoke, pins projecting from both ends of each yoke, a selector unit having two cam slots for respectively coacting with the pins at one end of said yokes and-having two cam slots for respectively coacting with the pins at the other end of said yokes, and means to rock said unit about a pivot and slide said unit on said pivot whereby said unit can be set in any one of a plurality of positions to give a predetermined rocking movement to said shafts. y

12. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a control unit mounted to swing about an axis and slidable upon said axis, a lever operatively associated withsaid unit for swinging said unit to a selecting position and for shifting said unit aXially, one or more rotatable shafts, rocking members projecting radially from opposite sides of each shaft, and selecting devices carried by said unit for engaging one or more of said rocking members as said unit is shifted from a set position by said lever, whereby a predetermined shaft is actuated.

13. A selecting mechanism for multiple speed transmissions comprising a control unit mounted to swing about an axis and slidable upon said axis, said unit having cam slots of different shape at opposite sides thereof, a lever operatively associated with said unit for swingingsaid unit to a selecting position and for shifting said unit axially, one or more rotatable shafts, and rocking members projecting radiallyrfrom opposite sides of each shaft and entering respectively said cam slots whereby a shifting movement of said unit causes operation of one or more of said shafts according to the selected position of said unit.

- Signed at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, this 28th day of January, 1980.

ROBERT B. LEWIS. 

